Folding ironing board



Sept. 15, 1953 J. E. WOOD FOLDING IRONING BOARD Filed Jan. 9, 1952 Patented Sept. 15, 195 3 UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE V t 2,651,861 Q I FOLDING moms BOARD Joseph E. Wood, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application January 9, 1952, Serial No. 265,637

The invention relates to folding ironing boards as described in the present specification and shown in the accompanying drawings that form a part of the same. l

The main object of the invention is to provide an ironing board having a work table of generous dimensions and a sturdy supporting structure therefor, both of which may be folded into a compact body wherein the supporting structure lies between folded sections of the table so that in its folded condition the device will present a smooth exterior, thus making the device particularly adaptable for storing in clothes closets and other likely congested places. I

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel features of construction, arrangements and combinations of parts set out in the present specification and more particularly pointed out in the claim for novelty following.

In describing the invention-reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved folding ironing board in its completely folded condition.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device as it appears in the process of being extended to its usable position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the under side of the device in its erected condition.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

Referring now to the drawings. In view of the fact that the device as a whole is commonly known as an ironing board it has been thought The table A comprises two sections l and 2 re respectively, preferably boards, which when placed in endwise relation to one another will conform substantially to the conventional ironing board, the section I, hereinafter called the rear section, being of rectangular shape in plan and the forward section or leaf 2 being of the same width as the section I at the end thereof which abuts the said section I and being reduced towards its front end, as shown at 3, to conform to conventional practice.

The table sections l and 2 are hinged to one another so that the forward section, or leaf, can be swung backwardly to a position paralleling the under face of thesection' I, but'spacedtherefrom,

"1 cam." (01. 38 117) whereby the device can be folded to occupy a relatively small space when not in use.

he hi e connection between the'secti'ons l and 2 comprises hinge plates 4 and S secured to the under sides of said sections respectively and extending over the respective under faces of the table sections for considerable distances from the meeting edges of said sections and terminating somewhat short of, and equi-distant' from, the side edges of said sections in outwardly turned flanges 6 and I respectively. The flanges at the corresponding sidesof the table are aligned endwise and extend parallel'with the side edges of said table sections. Thehinge plates 4 and 5 are provided at their meeting edges with endwise extensions 8 and 9 extending laterally therefrom and each being turned outwardly at right angles The sleeves formed by the extensions 8 and 9 are so locat d that thehinge pin H) will lie at: substantially the outer edges of the flanges 6 and 1 so that in the folded condition of the table the outer edges of the flanges carried by the plate- 5 will lie againstthe outer edges of the flanges:

carried by the plate dwiththe ears I I lying with-- in the recesses l2 respectively.

The table is adapted to beheld supported in: its erected condition for use by means of a fold-- able understructurel which when extended is: adapted for ground engagement at three points, two of which points are at opposite sides of thetable beneath the rear end and the other of which. points is in the transverse centre of the table beneath the forward end.

In the front supporting means for the main: table section and the leaf section 2 a single legis provided comprising an upper section l3 of substantially U-shape in cross section open towards the rear and a ground engaging section. I4 pivoted at its top end within the upper section near the lower end of thelatter on a pin 5, whereby said lower section may :be extended into engagement with the'ground, or folded upwardly to aposition within theupper'section." The up- This bracing member serves to hold the leaf sec tion 2 to its proper endwise relationwitb the section I and also to limit the forward swinging movement of the front leg so-th'atsail le'g will assume a slightly forwardly. inclined-position. I

The bracing member [6 is similar in crosss'ctional contour to the upper leg section lllfibut -is of sufiiciently greater cross sectional dimensions tov pe m s mb a neaid ess emeni the folded conditionof the device;

The bracing member: 16;- isw-cut awa-y atits lower end to provide Opposed aperture d lugs l8 which; embrace the upperleg section and-are pivoted thereto bymeans-o-f the pivot- I 5 which extends through the apertures in the. lugs; so that the said member canbe swung from: a position 1 embracing thej upper leg section; to a position with'its freeendengaging the'stolp'mfimber: IT carried-:by the tablesection '2.

l9 and 2 02 are: stays T engaging the upper-- leg section l3.at opposite'sides thereof. near its lower end for thB-fplllpOS?f"'hO1ding ithefront leg against lateralv movemenfl- These stays: consist of irigidz metal. stiiapsapivotallyi secured; at their top. ends .byimeans-of' pinsntl' to the ears.- I l: of thefl'anges-"l at opposite sides-of the-"upper leg sectionl'and convergingzto:embracing engagement with the opposinglugs -l 8"ofthe :bracingmember- I 6,"to whic'hxlatter theyare 'pivote'di by means? of the pin [5. It willithus beseenthatthe stays l9 and 20 while actingsto prevent lateral-nfovement of *therfront leg understrain will mdve with said leg. to "and ffromlits folded positiom In the rear supporting :means for-the tableg 22 is a hollow ibracket-- secured to the- "under; side of thetable :sectionl -at thefrear ende-thereof and open lengthwise of the'tablertlle saidbracket beingof; :thesame: width transversely of "the table as theihin'gef'plates 4 -and-' 5= 'and being' aligned l therewith'longitudinaliy of thetable. This brackethas-plane sides 231extnding -at right angles tor the; table i in "lorig'itudinal alignment with the corresponding side flanges- 6 anew 'of the hinge plates I iands' being -.c of" considerably greater depth than' said flanges? As stated previously herein two legs-: are 'employed'to support the table at its rear endr These legs comprise -uppersections 24% and 25, consisting ofxelongated -rigid memberslof substan tially U-shapein crosssection-positioned with their open sides forward; and being pivotally supported at their top ends on pins" 25=which extend laterally from theisides 2'3iof the bracket 4 tions to swing freely from positions entirely within the upper sections, as in the folded condition of the device, to downwardly extended positions.

As hereinabove stated, the sides 23 of the bracket 22 are of considerably greater depth than the flanges 6 and 1 of the hinge plates. This allows the pivotal connections between the rear upper leg sections 26 andjl a nd the sup orting lir'ack'et' 2-2} toibsufficieiitly fagther removed from the lower face of the wine than ar'e'the points of connection of the stays I9 and with the ears I I that the said rear legs in the folded conditioning the device will lie outside the said stays and the front leg.

The reanlegs are held against spreading by means; of crossed stays 3| and 32, the stay 3| the-"Stand he? front. wa l ha any utward y 22; 'land ground.engaging sections';21 and: 28.

The v lower leg" sectionshavje their upper-ends loosely fitting within the. lower=endswof the respective' upper= sections andpivotallynsecured co'nrfectifig'thetop'end of the upper leg section 24rwi'th the upper leg section 25 near the bottom end of the latter, and the stay 32 connecting the top of the upper legsectionZS.with the leg s s ifilgi ineati he w n fol l e'la ter- Collapsible brach co prising elongated, rigid strap-like sections'33 p'iv' dla t theirone ends; to the flanges 6 at oppositesidev .Qfthe table and; sectionsjtl pivotallyj secured vatftheir one en s will; re p c gm te r ends of thf I e' rac s ta d t. t e n t e eseheme m h in 1%- and 3. r p ctivel provid me nstin the re ward move.- t Q l t e ee e s tq he tsie h war r lina onh t ca cul ted 'l. f he b t adyin. hef i d; .9;ldi Q l f; the F x/ice; v

The sections 33 areprovided-outwardly of-their piv al: co ne t l wit the eci ns i with l ter l y-ex en in n e fil' isi est ma e in (t emanate-condemn; of th brack ts, q. embra hecorltfi 'fllld n rgdges f t e ass c a ed. sect ons-34.: and enter intokslo sfifi' in t e: d es, of the latter and thus limit the collapsinginovements of thebrackets to a directiontoward the table. H l

The-lower, leg section's Ip,'2l'- and 28 m ay, if desiredgbe'provided with: tips 3liilof rubber or other suitable material, which will tendjtoprevent-the legs:- from 'slipping' on the "supporting surface? s I H v 38 is a tray constituting an iron-stand slidable in: the bracket: 22' *fromfaplosed position inthe folded condition-tofthesdevicei to an openg'position rearwardly Of-717118 table in "the erected/condition of thedeyice, Thistrayghas acorrugatcd metal-bottom 3,9 'toisuppQrt-the fiatirqni when not:' use; and peripheral: walls of? considerable depth tea-prevent the flatironl from falling from turned-part4!) providing aihand grip for usein moving: the tray inwardly and. outwardly and the inner: end walhhas aidownward; extension 4! projecting below the bottom of the.'bracket 22 torprvent completetwithdrawalz of 'the tray from said bracket? v.

Thetransposition of the device from one: to its alterriatef. condition "ls-extremely easy of."accomplishment. Assuming: that 'the stand is in its erected conditionfand-fis 't'o"be"brought to its foldedconditiorilas' showri lniFigure l, it is simply necessaryitoraisesthe forward end of thetable slightly which w-il1"release the brace 16' from therein by means. otpins liga d 30 e p l i e y i-thei 'stopil'l and'rallovw it to .be swung rearwardly which extend across the openingszin the upp'er sections at points somewhat above the-lower ends: of the upper, leg. sections and through the lower .leg sectionsatpoints sufficiently closezto Y D thetop ends thereor to allow, the lower :legzselc ea a d y towards: the; under side ofthe 7 table.

on its pivot l5 to embrace the upper leg section 13, which a t r; a ter h lower. fse tion M has: een swun earwardls: and, n wa dlv int ositionz iib e a situnn l .c. .9n:.ca ,.,be swun The lower sections of the rear legs are then swung upwardly into the upper sections 24 and 25 and, after the brackets composed of the members 33 and 34 have been collapsed, the rear legs are swung towards the table as far as they will go. The front table section 2 is then swung inwardly over the folded supporting structure so that the latter will lie between the table sections I and 2.

While I have illustrated and described herein the present preferred form of construction for carrying out my said invention, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention, I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

In a folding ironing board, a table comprising a main section and a leaf section, hinge plates secured to the inner faces of said sections, respectively, said hinge plates having opposed curved end extensions cooperating to provide sleeves longitudinally aligned transversely of the table, a hinge pin engaging within said sleeves, said sleeves and said hinge pin being spaced inwardly from said main table section whereby said leaf section may be swung to a position parallel with but spaced from said main section, a bracket carried on the under side of said main table section near the end thereof farthest removed from said leaf section, said bracket having parallel side walls extending lengthwise of the main table section near opposite side edges of the latter, rear legs comprising upper sections of substantially U- shape in cross section and lower sections pivotally connected at their top ends to and within said upper sections, respectively, near the lower ends of said upper sections whereby the lower sections are movable to positions within said upper sections, said upper sections being pivotally supported from the sides of said bracket for swinging movement towards and away from the main table section, a front leg comprising upper and lower sections pivotally connected in endwise'overlapping relation whereby the lower section may be swung inwardly parallel with the upper section, the upper front leg section being fixed to said hinge pin medially of the ends of said hinge pin for movement therewith, a support for said leaf section pivotally connected at its one end to the upper front leg section and swinging to a, position wherein its free end will assume a position beneath and provide a support for said leaf section, an abutment for the free end of said support fixed to the lower face of said leaf section, and collapsible bracing means for said rear and front legs.

JOSEPH E. WOOD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,086,463 Bram July 6, 1937 2,175,734 Snyder Oct. 10, 1939 2,554,446 Nestor May 22, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 449,441 Great Britain June 26, 1936 

